Means of producing socketed articles



June 3, 194 1. R. L. wlLcOx 2,244,381

MEANS OF PRODUCING SOCKE'I'ED ARTICLES Original Filed Sept. 1, 1938 /5l, i (k my n \ k\ llnlllxnn Patented June 14E MEANS OF PRODUCINGSOCKETED ARTECILES Richard Lester Wilcox, Waterbury, Conn, assignor toThe Waterbury Farrel Foundry and chine Company, Waterbury, Comm, acorporation of Connecticut Original application September 1,1938, SerialNo.

Divided and this application November 29, 1939, Serial No. 306,593

9 Claims.

This invention relates to means of producing socketed articles,particularly screws, bolts and the like.

This case is a division of Serial No. 227,892, filed Sept. 1, 1938,which has resulted in Patent No. 2,205,507 of June 25, 1940.

Heretofore such articles, of an inferior character, have been made by amethod that was especially severe upon the tools, resulting in afrequent breakage and replacement thereof. The defects of such methodwere increased and accentuated by the necessary use of tougher andharder material, such as high carbon steel and metal having nickel,chrome or other like alloys forming part thereof, now demanded forscrews, bolts and the like. In such method the socket is usually formedby a punch, the tip of which is the same height or length as the depthof the socket and the same cross sectional area. This tip is forced intothe head of the blank its full height and in displacing the metaltherein causes the same to flow outwardly and upwardly. This upwardmoving metal of the head of the blank engages the working face of thepunch adjacent to the tip, whereby pressure is applied thereto. Thus,the socketing tip and punch apply pressures that cause flow of the metalin opposite directions. In brief, different portions of the punch applypressures that cause a metal fiow of the head in opposite directions.The result is, that the tip, being the smaller portion of the tool,cannot withstand the counteracting pressure of the Working face of thepunch, and is broken off, generally on a line substantially flush withthe working face of the punch. This, of course, ruins the tool and thesame must be replaced. If the broken punch is not immediatelydiscovered, blanks continue to pass through the machine automatically,incomplete and lacking a socket. When the broken punch is discovered,the machine is stopped, the old punch taken out and a new one installed.If such punch is not ready for immediate installation the machine standsidle until a new punch is made. In either case the time necessary tomake these changes is substantial and costly, the machine being out ofproduction.

The means herein described differs in several respects from thatheretofore known, in that the socket is made by first forming anoversize socket substantially the same depth as the finished socket andwithout pressure on the end of the blank, the metal of which flowsaxially without restraint, then project into this oversize socket a toolwhich in cross section is the same as the finished socket and thenapplying pressure to the end of the blank. This causes the metal to fiowinwardly and around the tool, reducing the oversize socket to thefinished socket of less cross sectional area, shapes the head of theblank and completes the blank.

There are other differences between the means herein shown and that ofthe prior art, which will become apparent from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawing, disclosing for purposes of illustration alimited number of the several embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 .is a perspective view of a finished bolt or screw blank withone form of socket therein;

Figure 2 is a similar view with a portion of the shank broken oil andhaving another form of socket therein;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a die and punch, with a blank thereinafter it has been coned or bulbed thereby;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the die shown in Figures 3 and 5;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the die shown in Figure 3, a punchassociated therewith and a blank with its head flattened thereby, andillustrating the operation succeeding the one shown in Figure 3, andtheblank shaped thereby;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of another die and a socket forming punchwith a blank positioned therebetween and illustrating the operationsucceeding the one shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the die shown in Figure 6, the punchand socket shaping matrix that cooperate therewith, the head of theblank shown therein being in its completed and finished form;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the punch and associatedparts, taken generally upon line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figures 9 and 10 are views of the head of a blank with the oversizesocket therein, as fashioned by the operation of the tools shown inFigure 6;

Figure 11 is an end view of the punch for forming the oversize socketand as illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 12 is an end view of the matrix as shown in Figure 7;

Figure 13 is a view of the blank before being subjected to anyoperations by the means and method herein described; and

Figure 14'is a plan view of the head of a blank, illustrating apreferable form thereof, if

the socket to be formed therein requires an un equal distribution of themetal.

In the practice of this invention the means therefor are associated witha-header or upsetting machine, preferably of the plural blow type.

As illustrated, two dies are utilized, severally designated i and Ii,having an aperture therethrough of substantially the same cross sectionas the blank and the usual knockout pin l2 or the like movable therein.

In the working face of the die I0 is a countersunk recess [3 and asimilarrecess II in the die H. These recesses both have angular walls,substantially as shown, and the recess I4 is generally annular and therecess ll may or may not be, as required. or as seems desirable.

For some operations, the included angle of the walls of the recess I3may be less than those of the recess H to facilitate the metal flow andfashioning the finished head. This relative angular inclination of therecess walls may be reversed from that above stated, that is, theincluded angle of the walls in the recess I, being less than those inthe recess IS.

A blank l5, usually cut from a wire length, is presented to the die IDin any convenient and well known manner, the inner end being against theknockout pin l2. When so positioned, the projecting end is engaged bythe punch I6, and the outer end thereof coned or bulbed as at II. Thisoperation is the conventional first step in an upsetting operation.

While still in the die l0, the coned portion I1 is subsequently engagedby the punch i8 and upset to the form substantially as shown in Figure5, wherein the outer edge is rounded and the recess is not completelyfilled out, particularly at its open end.

From the die 10 the blank is transferred in any convenient manner to thedie II and there subjected to pressure of the socket forming punch l9,which is mounted in the punch holder 20. This punch I!) has a strong,rugged body portion, with a head 30, within the bore of holder Zll incontact with pressure member 3| and provided with a tip 2i that in crosssection approximates the shape of the finished socket but of largercross sectional area. As this tip is projected into the blank itproduces an oversize socket. The lower end of this tip, as shown, isrounded, although it may be of different shape if desired, and isprojected into the blank so that the outer end of the tip is spaced thesame distance away from the neck of the head, that is, the point wherethe head and shank join, as in the finished socket. The tip is ofgreater height than the depth of the socket and does not project itsfull length into the blank, hence the face of the punch holder 20 isdistant from the blank and the face of the die ll, thus providing amplespace for free and uninterrupted metal fiow.

The article is completed by the mechanism substantially as shown inFigure 7, wherein 22 indicates the punch having a central chamber 23with a. collar 24 therein, between which and the pressure plate 25 is acoil spring, 26.

Movably mounted in the punch 22 is a matrix 21, the outer end of whichis preferably, although not necessarily rounded, and having a crosssection the same size and shape as that of the finished socket.

In the outer end of the punch 22 are two guide sections 28, the innerfaces of which are in engagement with each other and are recessed so asto form an opening therebetween the same size and shape as the crosssection of the matrix 21, substantially as shown in Figure 8. Theseguide sections 28 form a. split guide for the matrix which moves freelytherein.

After the blank has been fabricated by the mechanism shown in Figure 6,the punch 2! approaches the blank, when in the form as shown in Figure6, and the matrix enters the oversize socket and continues its movementuntil the rounded end thereof engages the bottom of the socket. Thepunch 22, however, continues its movement, the spring 28 beingcompressed thereby as the matrix is stationary and by its engagement andthat of the guide therein with the head of the blank, the metal of thelatter flows until it both fills the recess II and closes around thematrix, which limits its further fiow in that direction. This operationnot only fashions the head to its finished form but also reduces theoversize socket to its completed shape and size. The punch 22 whenwithdrawn carries with it the matrix 21 and the finished blank iselected from the die by the knockout pin 12. Heretofore it has been thepractice to form the socket and shape the blank at one and the sameoperation, the tip of the punch making the finished socket. Thisnecessitates the use of a tool wherein the tip thereof is exactly thesame shape in cross section and height as that of the finished socket.After such a tip has been projected into the blank the working face ofthe punch adjacent to the tip applies pressure to the head of the blank.Thus, a pressure is applied through the tip, which causes the metal toflow outwardly, and a pressure by the punch face on the end of the blankcauses the metal to flow inwardly. two diametrically opposite fiows ofthe metal. This results in an imperfect product and is the cause offrequent breakage of the punch, particularly the tip on the junctureline of the tip and the body of the punch. In the means herein shown thesocket is first made larger than the finished socket, and no pressure isapplied to the head of the blank. By such a method a much more ruggedsocketing punch is used and the metal is free to flow under the pressurethereof without restriction or counterpressure. Again, the Junction.point between the tip and the punch body may be rounded as at 28,adding materially to the strength of the tool. Thereafter, this socketis completed by an inward fiow of the metal to reduce the oversizesocket to its smaller and finished size, at which time there is nosocket punch, the matrix merely limiting the inward flow of the metaland pressure is only applied to the outside of the head.

By the means herein shown and described a blank is produced with aperfect socket to the required shape and depth, as well as a. finishedhead that does not require trimming or the like. The blanks are made athigh speed with no breakage of tools.

In Figures 1 and 2 are illustrated two of the many shaped socketscommonly used. Other shapes may be produced equally as well by the meansherein disclosed. In the producing of various shaped sockets the flow ofmetal is equal in some and in others unequal. To illustrate, the fiow ofmetal in the shape of socket shown in Figure 1 is unequal, and equal inthe shape shown in Figure 2. If unequal, it is desirable to so shape therecess IS in the die III as to facilitate the subsequent fiow of metalin fashioning the blank. This is done for unequal fiow by forming' therecess other than round in shape, one shape being generally elliptical,substantially as shown in Figure 14, the minor axis of which iscoincident with the length of the socket. Projecting the socket formingtip 2| into the blank, causes a greater flow of metal in the directionof the length of the socket than at right angles thereto. Other shapesof recesses may be provided to facilitate forming varying shapes ofsockets, the disclosures herein being merely for illustration and notlimitation.

In Figure 14 is illustrated the head of a blank, substantially as formedwith the tools as shown in Figure 5, and as presented to the tools asshown in Figure 6.

There are minor changes and alterations that may be made within myinvention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limitmyself to the exact means herein disclosed, but claim all that fallsfairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for making a socketed head blank, comprising mechanism forupsetting the portion of the blank to be socketed, a socketing mechanismof greater height than the depth of the socket and projected into theupset portion; and means for shaping the head and socket in its finishedform, comprising in part a member within the socket to limit inward flowof the metal and a punch therearound, movable relative to said member,which applies endwise pressure to the upset portion of the blank outsideof the socket area and while the said member is stationary within thesocket.

2. Apparatus for making a socketed head blank, comprising in part diesand punches which cooperate to upset that portion of the blank to besocketed; a punch having a tip thereon of greater height than the depthof the finished socket and having a larger cross section than thefinished socket; a matrix having substantially the same shape and sizein cross section as the finished socket; and a punch movable relative tothe matrix that applies pressure to the end of the upset portion whilethe matrix is stationary within the said socket and thereby shaping theupset portion into a finished head and completing the socket therein.

3. In apparatus for making a socketed head blank, the combination with adie; of a punch to form a socket in the blank; another punch thatapplies pressure to the blank outside of the said socket; a matrixmovable therein and in one position a portion thereof projecting beyondthe working face of the punch, said portion in cross section beingsmaller than but having substantially the same shape as the said socket;and means within the punch guiding the matrix in its movement,comprising two members having abuttin faces and an opening therethroughcorresponding in shape. with said matrix.

4. In apparatus for making a blank with a socket in the head thereof,the combination with a die; of a punch to form a socket in the blank;another punch that applies pressure to the blank outside of the saidsocket; a matrix movable endwise therein; a spring to project the matrixoutwardly; and a guide member in the punch through which the matrixprojects, said matrix at its outer end at that portion passing throughthe guide member having substantially the same cross sectional shape ofbut slightly smaller than the said socket.

5. Apparatus for making a socketed head blank, comprising in part diesand punches, each of said dies having a recess in its working face, thecross sectional shape of the recess in one die being substantially thesame as that of the head of the blank in its finished form and therecess in the other die having a shape elliptical in cross section.

6. Apparatus for making socketed head blanks, comprising in part diesand punches, each die having a recess in its working face, the crosssectional shape of the recess in one die being substantially the same asthat of the head of the blank in its finished form, and the recess inthe other die having a cross sectional shape different than that of thehead of the blank, the space between the walls thereof and the center ofthe recess varying at different points about said center. {7. Anapparatus for making a socketed head blank by pressure, comprising inpart means for holding the blank, a punch, means for forcing the punchinto the blank and thereby forming a socket, a member having a crosssection smaller than the punch held stationary within the socket and asecond punch for applying pressure to the end of the blank outside ofthe member and causing the metal of the blank to flow toward and aroundthe member and thereby reforming the socket.

'8. Apparatus for makin a socket in a blank, comprising in part a toolthat applies pressure solely to the end of the blank over the socketarea, and thereby forming a socket therein, a second tool that appliespressure solely outside of the socket area and a matrix mounted in thesecond tool which projects into the socket formed by the first mentionedtool and passively determines the final shape and size of the socketwhile the blank is under the pressure of the said second tool tosubstantially that of the matrix.

9. In apparatus for making a socketed head blank, the combination with adie; of a punch to form a socket in the blank; another punch thatapplies pressure to the blank outside of the said socket; a matrixmovable therein and in one position a. portion thereof projecting beyondthe working face of the punch, said portion in cross section beingsmaller than but having substantially the same shape as the said socket;and means within the punch guiding the matrix in its movement having anopening therethrough substantially corresponding in shape with saidmatrix.

RICHARD LESTER WILCOX.-

